I posted this to the towing section, but thought I'd try here as well.

I'm looking for any driving tips anyone has about towing a U-haul trailer with my truck. It's a 1990 F150 with a 5 speed, 4.9L inline 6, 3.55 rear axle ratio, GCWR (gross combined vehicle rating, I've learned)of 7800, 4WD, and an owner's manual recommended trailer weight of 0-2000 AND 2000-5000 pounds. I know I'm going to be fine as far as weight goes--just hauling my stuff from Olympia WA to Minneapolis, and other than my books, everything is made of the great modernist fiberboard. If anyone can explain the two weights listed in the manual, that would clear up some questions I have about possible future towing plans, but my real question is about how to drive with this thing.
I've spent some time towing boats with my Dad's Suburban and even more hauling horses with F350 diesels, so I have a basic clue how to drive with a trailer. But in both of those cases I was dealing with a truck hauling WAY less than its capacity.

I have read that overdrive should be used only at constant speeds on level ground so I plan to downshift any time I want to step on the gas. What else do I need to be aware of???

Oh, yeah, the truck and tranny have 161,000 miles on them while the engine was rebuilt 55,000 miles ago. I just bought it a couple weeks ago from a guy who was meticulous about maintenance (with the documents to prove it).

Thanks much for any help,
John Freeman

 

The factor for towing trailers is 0 - 2,000 pounds using a bumper hitch, and up to 5,000 pounds using a receiver hitch. You can go higher depending on your motor, and gear ratio. Up 10,000 pounds with a weight distibution hitch.

As for towing the number one factor is load, make sure that at least 60 % of the load is in the front of the trailer. Allow your self twice the stoping distance than normal, as now you have two vehicles to stop. Make sure your tires are up to air presure. Check all brakes prior to trip. Allow your self more room when turning, so as not to allow the trailer to track over curbs, etc.

Should I be of any more help please call

Dave

http://a2ztowing.homestead.com/a2ztowing.html

 

Re use of overdrive. I just towed a 2000 lb trailer with my '95 F150 300 I6 and 5 speed manual from Michigan to Yellowstone and over Trail Ridge Road at Rocky Mountain National Park. I did not use overdrive. I turned 2600 rpm at 70 mph on flat land and drove somewhat to a lot slower in the mountains.

 

I'd stay away from using the overdrive.
Think about the power flow path: In Fourth gear, direct drive, the input shaft is coupled directly to the output shaft, a straight shot, in to out, with the countershaft merely going along for the ride, spinning freely. "Direct" is the key word here.
In Fifth gear, overdrive, the input shaft is uncoupled from the ouput shaft, instead driving a gear on the countershaft, which is driving another gear on the countershaft, which is driving yet another gear at the rear of the main (output) shaft. "Indirect", in other words.
Yep, confusing to read, but take my word for it--there is a lot of monkey motion going on with overdriving!

 

Also, I read somewhere that OD is the weakest link in the tranny. Apparently because it drives through a fairly small gear. My mechanic said I can use OD with the trailer on level ground so long as I don't accelerate because it would be risky to push a lot of torque through it with a heavy load.

 

When I was a poorer kid just out of high school, my wife and I lived in a 27' Prowler travel trailer. I pulled that thing all over Colorado with my '90 F-150 300 and the M5OD 5-speed tranny. The trailer was just shy of 10,000 pounds which was way too much for that pick-up, but she never complained. I used over drive every chance I got which wasn't very often. When the tranny finally went at 171,000 miles, it was the input shaft that appeared to the weakest as it twisted into two pieces. That tranny wasn't built for working, but it survived long enough that I can't complain.